ERST LESEN! » as able to get free thanks to a smart decision by Shkelz

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma has been against the ropes before.Just last season, the Sooners unexpectedly lost to Texas, and Oklahoma was considered an afterthought in the national title race. Oklahoma rallied, won seven straight games and reached the College Football Playoff. The first game after the Texas loss was a 55-0 thumping of Kansas State, the first of four straight games in which the Sooners scored at least 50 points.The Sooners opened this season with a 33-23 loss to Houston that dropped them from No. 3 to No. 14 in the AP poll . They believe they can regain their footing again, starting with Saturdays game against Louisiana-Monroe.I have all the confidence in the world, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield said. Houstons a great ballclub. All the credit in the world to them for coming out and out-competing us on Saturday. Were a good team too.The Sooners need to get back on track quickly-- they host No. 4 Ohio State the following week in a make-or-break game. For now, Mayfield said the team simply wants to play better.Its about not focusing on the loss too much, learning from your mistakes and moving on, Mayfield said.Here are some things to look for as Oklahoma tries to bounce back.---SOONER SECONDARY: Oklahomas secondary got shredded by Houstons Greg Ward Jr ., especially in the first half, so the Sooners plan to do some experimenting at cornerback. Michiah Quick and P.J. Mbanasor are likely to get their fair share of action this week.I think it starts in practice and it starts with your attitude, effort and technique and how you prepare, Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said. Every time you think you have all the answers, youre going to get slapped; its the world we live in. Whether its me or a player, if you get too full of yourself -- and you can be overly confident and not prepare the right way -- then youre gonna get humbled.JOE MIXON: The Oklahoma running back was a bright spot against Houston. He ran for a 32-yard touchdown against the Cougars and finished with 181 all-purpose yards. Starting running back Samaje Perines shoulder was dinged up last week and, though coach Bob Stoops said Perine is fine, Mixon might get some extra work if the Sooners decide to play it safe with their workhorse.GAME BREAKER: Mayfield was hesitant to throw at times last week , but he may have found someone he can trust in Mark Andrews . The 6-foot-5 tight end caught three passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns against Houston. Andrews has 22 career receptions, and nine have gone for scores. Wide receiver Dede Westbrook had eight catches for 70 yards last week. It may be worth watching to see if Mayfield looks for Andrews more often.GARRETT SMITH: Louisiana-Monroes quarterback passed for 208 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 150 yards and another score in a season-opening win over Southern last week.NEW LOOK: The Sooners will play in updated Memorial Stadium for the first time. The changes include a newly enclosed south end zone and an 8,500-square foot video board that the school says is the second- largest in college sports.---AP college football website: collegefootball.ap.org---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter (at)CliffBruntAP .Grant Fuhr Jersey . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say. Wholesale Maple Leafs Jerseys . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. http://www.cheapmapleleafsjerseyschina.com/red-kelly-jersey/ .Gather a group of friends, or find a league to join online, draft your team, set your lineup and compete in a number of different formats. Frank Mahovlich Jersey .Y. -- Paul Byron and Matt Stajan scored as the Calgary Flames started a five-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. Wendel Clark Jersey .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras.SEATTLE -- The Seattle Sounders will go to Colorado needing only a draw or a win to reach the MLS Cup final for the first time.The Rapids are perfectly fine heading home for the second-leg of the Western Conference finals knowing a win will send them to the championship match, too.Weve given up the least goals I think in the history of the league at home, Colorado coach Pablo Mastroeni said. Were very comfortable in the position that we are in.Nicolas Lodeiro scored on a penalty kick in the 61st minute and the Sounders beat the Rapids 2-1 on Tuesday night in the first-leg of the conference finals.Seattle will take an important one-goal advantage into the second match of the two-game series on Sunday in Colorado. But the Rapids picked up a crucial road goal which could serve as the tiebreaker if the aggregate-goal series finishes tied.A win or a tie by Seattle on Sunday would put the Sounders in the final. But that wont be easy in the thin air of Colorado, where the Rapids are 12-0-6 this season and have allowed a total of seven goals all season in MLS competition. But Seattle coach Brian Schmetzer was quick to counter that stat. Since he took over in late July, the Sounders have failed to score only once in 18 matches.There are a lot of scores that go in our favor as well, Schmetzer said.Lodeiro caused issues all over the field for Colorado before drawing the penalty 15 minutes into the second half. A deflected ball rolled to Lodeiro in the penalty area and he was taken down by Marc Burch, a call Mastroeni thought was wrong but Burch didnt dispute. Lodeiro sent goalkeeper Zac MacMath the wrong direction and scored his fourth goal of the playoffs.After a 16-day layoff due to a break for international competition, what was expected to be a defensive struggle was instead a lively showcase that featured chances on both ends.ddddddddddddKevin Doyle gave Colorado an early advantage when his shot in the 13th minute deflected off Seattle defender Chad Marshall and past goalkeeper Stefan Frei, stunning the 42,774 in attendance for the Sounders third appearance in the conference finals. Doyle was able to get free thanks to a smart decision by Shkelzen Gashi letting the pass from Jermaine Jones run through.Gashi was a surprise starter for the Rapids after suffering an ankle injury in the semifinal round win over Los Angeles.Seattle responded almost immediately with Jordan Morris pulling the Sounders even in the 19th minute jumping on the rebound of Cristian Roldans shot that beat MacMath but ricocheted off the post. Seattle was unsure if Morris would play after suffering a hamstring injury in the second game of its semifinal win over FC Dallas. The injury kept Morris from joining the U.S. national team for its qualifying matches against Mexico and Costa Rica.MacMath did his part making his first start since Sept. 3 with Tim Howard out for the year after having surgery for an adductor injury suffered with the U.S. during the loss to Mexico. MacMath made four saves, none better than a sequence midway through the first half where he pushed aside a header from Lodeiro and off the ensuing corner kick smothered Nelson Valdezs shot at the back post.I think he had a pretty good game, Mastroeni said. Its not easy stepping into the season at this point. ' ' '